With two weeks remaining in the turtle nesting season a record number of nests have been counted on Anna Maria Island. How many?
The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch counted 544 nests on the island. They counted nine Green Sea Turtle nests. The rest were Loggerhead Turtle nests.
The record was 534 nests, set last year.
The hatchlings work their way to the gulf waters. Sadly, some become disoriented by lights inland. That is being addressed to help keep the distraction from affecting the newly hatched turtles.
A rare green turtle nest hatched overnight on Anna Maria Island.
— Angie Angers (@angie_angers) October 17, 2019
Roughly 100 sea turtles made their way through the sand to the water leaving these tracks behind. It’s was a record-breaking season for turtle nests on the island with 544 nests @BN9 pic.twitter.com/UFx2H2Yczl